So, we received this week’s challenge on Monday, and look at me – caught the lightning bolt last night (Wednesday) and my entry just kind of wrote itself – though I think I could have done better in the mix (and as a non-performing songwriter I know that my singing is sub-par). Jordan Howard, Creative Director of CCS Rights Management is looking to pitch songs for a 19th century “Dexter”-style show starring Christina Ricci – so that took me to a pretty dark place: There must be some mistake, I didn’t mean to let them take away my soul… I know the devil wears a blue dress, but this neon blue image took over for me and the 30-30 shotgun image completed this macabre work… the longer version (yes, there is an even longer version) also worked in pentagrams and black candles for a full-on Satanist vibe…

I’m back on my Matt Dusk pitch song now – lighter fare for sure! I’m busy over March Break, so I’m making the most of my not-so-free time now… May the Muse, and not the Devil, be with you…

Okay, another tough week – country pop with an EDGE was the order for this week a la Ron Irving… we weren’t supposed to mention marriage or kids, so what do I do – my first line is about a “man and his wife” – but the song’s narrator isn’t married so I’ll take that as compliance with the rules. I didn’t have time to make a full demo so I layered some guitar and did a rough vocal to get an idea for the song. The “edge” comes from the cheekiness in the title – “one gun salute” and the double entendre in the last verse…

Let me know what you think and may the Muse be with you… and not shoot you…

I read in the news ’bout a man and his wife
She took a lover and ruined his life
He couldn’t stand to see that gigolo
So one night when the cold wind blow
He got down low in the dirt & soot
And when he saw him he started to shoot

Gave him a one gun salute

I saw on the TV ’bout a man and his wealth
When he lost his millions he lost his mental health
He lay wounded by the stock market crash
So he took what was left of his cold hard cash
Bought a gun and went to his troubles’ root
Cornered his broker and he started to shoot

Gave him a one gun salute

I was walking down the street one day
When I took a shortcut down an alleyway
Got involved in a little Socratic dialogue
Making sense out of nothing at all
He asked me for my wallet, asked me for my loot
When I refused him well he started to shoot

Gave me a one gun salute

Bridge: Right now I should be in a hearse
Instead of in the arms of a beautiful nurse
She stays up all night and says prayers for me
She gives me life when she takes care of me

I wondered if we could be more than friends
Me and this Angel of Mercy who made me well again
So when I was checking out well she checked me in
She drew me a map on a paper napkin
So I went to her house later that night
She let me in and then she put out light
Love at first sight, there’s no dispute
Ooh baby, you’re just too cute

Well, Heather Gardiner, Head of Music Supervision & Licensing for Vapor Music, issued this week’s challenge – to write a 60 second piece of music for use in an advertisement (that could also be cut into 30 and 15 second pieces):

The spot features a child so we’re looking for something child-like, light and playful, fun, capturing the moment and that captures the spirit of a child. However, we don’t want to be emotional or heart-stringy — we’re looking for something that’s purely fun.

That was my focus this week – and with my 4-year old son’s help, I just kind of stopped at the “purely fun” part of the task – I mean the piece is called “Super Happy Fun Time” for heaven’s sake! I didn’t quite get up to the feel of having a contemporary song, and was more like a Pee Wee’s Playhouse filler song. But it was fun…

Well, I had a rough week with this challenge. As I’ve already stated, these are uncharted waters for me… My daughter just turned 13 so you think I might be hearing a lot of current music in the house, but God bless her soul, she listens to a lot of older tunes (her favourite – The Beatles). I wrote one song (Waking Nightmare) base on Rehtaeh Parsons‘ tragic death after her attempted suicide. I didn’t end up having time to record that one for this week, but I thought I’d put a line or two here:

I can’t fake that smile
It’s been a while
Since I wanted to anyway…
Why do I have to be strong?
When you know what’s right from what’s wrong

Not exactly light fare… Some of the lines in that song (and the working title) were right from Rehtaeh’s journal. Very sad…

So, another song took hold later in the week inspired by the recent campaign that started earlier this month with a Super Bowl Ad – the”Like A Girl” campaign. The campaign shows differences in how people perceive the phrase, “like a girl.” And thus, the first verse is:

He meant it as a joke
When he spoke
But a little piece of me broke
Shattered my glass house world

The girl takes ownership of the phrase and wears it proudly. I gave myself some wiggle room to be able to put it into the third person if need be, but my daughter helped me out with vocals on this one. Here it is:

May the Muse be with you… and can’t wait to see what Week 3 has in store (and still working on the Week 1 challenge!)

Boy, if I thought I was out of my element with the first week’s challenge (due in 5 weeks), this week’s challenge (due in a week) has me hyperventilating even more! This challenge comes from Rob Wells who writes/produces with such artists as Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez, among others… Here’s the gist of Mr. Wells’ “reverse” pitch:

So I took my own advice from my last post and signed up (late) for the SAC’s Songwriting/Blogging Challenge. I was just accepted today, so I’m behind one week, but I can catch up. The thing is, after listening to Matt Dusk’s “reverse” pitch on how the songs should feel (up and down tempo, Daft Punk/Foster The People to John Legend/Lana Del Rey) I’m feeling I may not be up to the task. These are not my contemporaries – I have exactly one song in my personal collection (Pumped Up Kicks) so I’m doing research right now listening for the feel that Mr. Dusk wants (now, I have a lot of Matt Dusk in my collection, but lo and behold, he wants something different!).